Volla Phone with Ubuntu Touch after 2 years
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 เม.ย. 2022
- My experience with the Volla Phone running Ubuntu Touch after 2 years of usage.
I show you some of the new features and apps for the system.
Are you using the Volla Phone?
Did you try out Ubuntu Touch by UBPorts yet?
Which features do you miss on Ubuntu Touch? - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
I forgot to say: thank you, this was the best video I could find before deciding on acquiring a Volla Phone 22 with UT.
This video convinced me to get a Volla Phone with Ubuntu Touch as a daily driver, as someone who doesn't actively use Android apps. What I need isn't a smartphone; what I need is a pocket computer with basic phone service.
Great video. Ubuntu touch has really come a long way. Although ir still needs improvement. I think this project has a bright future.
I found out that volla is making new phone called volla phone 22. It has multiboot which means u can install other operating systems like Ubuntu touch and sailfish without replacing the operating system i never saw phone with this feature before.
Thats exactly what I mentioned in my video briefly.
Good to know: I recently used the UBPorts Installer to switch into Volla OS, and it went well (even if I kept having a warning about unlocked bootloader on every boot). However, after trying to use the UBPorts Installer again to try and lock the bootloader as suggested by someone... I bricked my Volla 22.
I decided to contact Volla, and they suggested me to send my phone to their partner in Germany to have it fixed/factory flashed. I just received it, and it's indeed my phone (and not a new one). It's good to know if you live in Germany. It's just a bit harder if you live abroad like me, especially since the entire process is in German, so you either need to be fluent or use a translator to understand what to do.
Now I'm just waiting for the multiboot UT to work on VollaOS 12.1
You can make the Android navigation buttons in Waydroid appear without being cutoff by entering in Terminal app (while Waydroid is running):
waydroid prop set persist
waydroid.height_padding 70
- and then restart Waydroid
For the fingerprint, it always don't work after a reboot or Lomiri crash. It's the same on other systems like Android. Android also requires the pincode/password after some time of inactivity and it seems like UT also does this but not really sure because it seems to be all over the place and kinda random.
As for Twitter, it seems to be a combination of UT's browser being laggy and Twiiter web's behavior. Even on Android, it goes blank if you scroll fast. Also, it's weird that my Xperia X performs a bit better. Maybe it's because of the difference in CPU/GPU.
In general, unfortunately it is an very steep uphill battle for Ubuntu Touch. It's a very small community with very small number of core devs. The 20.04 upgrade is taking really long as expected but hopefully it'll come soon. And I think Volla is supporting UBports well so I hope them the best too.
I just realised something with the lock screen and the fingerprint scanner: when you see the ⚠ symbol, it means you cannot use the fingerprint scanner and you have to input your pass code/passphrase. It usually happens when your phone just (re)booted -or after a while. I know the delay to expire on my Redmi on Android was 72 hours, with a message that clearly explained why. Not sure how long it takes to expire yet on the Ubuntu Touch.-
The only annoying thing is how you are often requested to input your pass code/passphrase in a prompt to perform some action such as opening console, accessing restricted features, installing apps with special authorizations, etc. And when that happens, you cannot use the fingerprint reader. Ultimately, I switched from a passphrase to a pass code because of that. Otherwise, I would spend too much time typing my passphrase over and over again.
You know, although I am quite happy with my UT, a part of me is wondering if I should have picked the Volla OS instead, because the multiboot still allows you to switch to UT and any operating system you might want to install. It makes me wonder if, for example, I could install a separate LineageOS with(out) Google Services for office purpose.
It's too bad they only mention it quickly in their advertising but never actually released a video about it though. I feel like trying it out, but I don't know if I want to dump my daily driven UT for it.
Good vid. S rank shirt. :)
Thanks for this useful report. I have a question: what's your impression of Volla's OpenOS? And to what degree is it possible to access Android apps if needed?
I only tried VollaOS briefly. It is based upon Android AOSP and can run Android apps without issues. You can install F-Droid then and install Free and Open Source software. I did not try more with it honestly and quickly installed Ubuntu Touch
I just realised that Waydroid itself doesn't use a lot of battery if I leave it open but set the phone in plane mode.
-Still, even if I disable Wi-Fi and mobile data without enabling plane mode, ever since I updated to 20.04 OTA-1, it seems to be more battery hungry than it used to with Ubuntu 16.04.-
If I had to summarise the Ubuntu Touch experience, I would say: this is not a phone for someone who just wants to plug and play. It works, but you have to be willing to use it. It's not unfeasible, but you won't find your happiness if you don't feel like being a beta tester of some kind.
A little more about the Volla Phone 22, battery wise.
The battery size is comparable to the Redmi Note 4, and when I close all background apps, they seem to have comparable autonomy (like, 10% lost per day/24 hours). This was tested without receiving notifications, not having Wi-Fi, not having Bluetooth, not having GPS enabled, and only having mobile data enabled.
Today, I tried leaving the phone with nothing but a bare Waydroid running (because killing it requires to reboot the phone to boot it again sometimes). After 11 hours of the same situation as above, it consumed 30% of battery, which is pretty reasonable for my kind of use case since I don't leave any app running in background (basically, in this situation 4:54 for example, I would close everything). I just have to remember to recharge it every night if I don't want to shutdown Waydroid.
I expect the battery would drain a lot faster if you're a heavy phone user; especially if you want to use Waydroid heavily. But since it's interchangeable, I guess you could just swap it out, just like with a GoPro. Or you could purchase external batteries.
Extra detail: Sometimes, Waydroid might hide itself, making it look like it's not running, but it actually is (this happens when you boot an Android app directly from Ubuntu Touch app menu screen, although I don't know if Waydroid is in sleep mode or not). The problem with this is, the apps within Waydroid are still running in background too. That might play on the autonomy of the battery too.
What I do is after a first boot of Waydroid, I never touch the Android apps directly from Ubuntu Touch menu screen.
It's a lot of small details to remember, which I got used to. It fits my needs, but it's definitely not a phone for your average Joe's daily usage.
I'm checking out that last detail I spoke about whether or not Waydroid is in sleep mode. I booted several Android apps which I left running by opening them through Ubuntu app menu so that Waydroid is "closed"/goes into some kind of sleeping mode.
I'll update this comment if it turns out to be a good way to save battery with Waydroid still running in some way.
Edit : I just tested it out. I opened all my Android apps through the Ubuntu menu and pressed the back button in Waydroid to enable the "sleep mode" as I call it. After 9 hours, it used only 9% of battery, so approximately 3 times less than if I left Waydroid running in background. And on top of it, it allows you to open all the apps fast without having to boot Waydroid since it's already ready and in "stand by".
Perhaps the Ubuntu Touch will be suited for "Advanced Dumbphone" rather than smartphone, atleast it can send the email, chat or sms, set alarm, and make calendar schedule. The dumbphone itself might be a "minimalist" alternative trend on the next year, for the zoomer or millennials who tired with their current smartphone especially for privacy.
PS: This is just my opinion :).
Yeah thats one of the reasons people also tend to buy the Nokia "Feature Phones". Some of them have only E-Mail and some minimalistic whatsapp or other chat apps. Very minimalistic. Most often not even Wifi.
I think Ubuntu Touch definitely aims for a full experience and can do it if you take the browser into account for most things. But you are right. This is more a smartphone experience for those who need the basics.
I call it the "fancyphone", because it does what a phone does, but fancier.
FYI, Waydroid is now available on the Volla Phone 22 (although you have to run some commands as specified on the related GitHub issue for now).
I've installed it and it's working really well. With that, my UT is also working as a perfectly functional degoogled LineageOS. After downloading a few APKs (mostly Firefox and Aurora Store), I'm good to 100% daily drive it.
Will the new Volla 22 come with several OS or just one? If I have to choose between UT vs Volla OS which one is better?
In all honesty Volla OS seems to be better for now
Go with VollaOS. It allows you to take advantage of multiboot with SD card.
Multiboot isn't an option with UT, so you'll have to really want it (like I did).
Does Ubuntu touch play any Linux games on it? Like some which run on windows too?
There are some games but it has to be arm optimized games otherwise they won't run.
I received my Volla Phone 22 this week. It's not as usable as the original Volla Phone yet with Ubuntu Touch. Mostly: Waydroid doesn't work out of the box yet.
Other drawback: even though it's a Linux, you can't just install any package you want, because the system is in read-only; although you can unmount and remount in read-write, but that has other consequences.
Supposedly, you can use Libertine in the system settings to create containers in which you can install packages. But that doesn't always work painlessly either.
Hey buddy nice to watch. I wonder if you can guide me on a tech puzzle I'm in
Wdym?
@@lltechview I'm looking for a device I can sort out my Adobe projects on.
My work device does not leave my desk but I often am in a crunch and need to work on projects instantly when I am not near my work computer.
This is not mobile device related but I wanted to see if you could help me choose the right device for being like a laptop , a pocket laptop.
I ended up getting my first mac, a Mac mini. I will have it on the go alongside a family members iPad and dongle for a work station on the go.
I was buying a GPD win, but all 4 orders were cancelled.
Now I go see your newest video!!! Thanks buddy
I can't see future for UT. Still in development for may years and every review I watch there is Tons of problems. It is a great initiative but there is no hope to turn into a functional product. :(
Can you install steam in Ubuntu touch ? perhaps in the Libertine container thing ?
Not that I know. Different platform
@@lltechview So if i run a dual boot windows arm - ubuntu touch on my one plus 6 i can't get the steam client twice, bummer... Have you tried mobian or postmarketOS ?
@@Jbrimbelibap postmarketos once. But Steam is afaik only 64bit amd right now.
@@lltechview Oh the linux version is only 64 bit ? so if you want to turn a phone into a pc and game a bit, you have to use windows
@@Jbrimbelibap Windows on arm needs also a 64bit layer to run steam as most games are for 64bit amd not arm.
It is good review, but a lot of people do not start use this phone because here a lot of bugs and problems: fingerprint, random reboot, screen rotation, scroll etc. I tried to use UT one month and switched to Volla OS because experience with UT was… Painful. Now it is geek-toy.
is that the same model as vollaphone 22? is the camera any good?
Thats the OG model
The camera is working really well on the Volla Phone 22. Otherwise, as a 22 owner, I can tell you the original phone as presented in the video works better.
I'm not a huge smartphone user so I can't tell if it lags and all, but it does have more issues there and there since it's still pretty young.
Is it crypto friendly?
For example using popular apps like metamask or binance?
It depends. What does it take to be crypto friendly? Just being able to install an Android app? Or does it require other stuffs like NFC?
@@replacesoundboard more like installing the apps, if it installs pc apps is even better!
Is it possible to flash UT on Gigaset GS5 ? from technical side is same phones with Volla 22
No clue. Probably there is a way but it needs unlocking of the bootloader and then flashing onto the device which probably needs a mediatek tool to do so.
There was a thread back in 2020 where people discussed the possibility of installing UT on the Gigaset phone which was used for the very first Volla Phone. Some people managed to do it.
If you believe you can do it without bricking your phone, you can go for it. The only difference would be the casing (no Volla logo and different colour), which should not affect the way it works.
Personally, I went the easy route and purchased directly from Volla to have it preinstalled and partly to contribute (although you could also donate directly for that last part).
Full fledged Ubuntu vs Ubuntu touch?
Full fledged Ubuntu is better but not optimized for smartphones
Dang sadly it seems like UT is still pretty laggy and unpolished, understandable for the ressources they are working with but for a phone ease of use is a #1 for me
Yeah the way hoe to use it is a bit unusual and needs some polishing and refinement
We are not interested on Ubuntu touch as this OS is still lagging to develop 4g lte, volte network and 5g network is a dream. This OS supports only 2g or 3g network which are no use for mobile communication now a days. Maximum countries are communicating with 4g/5g network.
Simply it is trash for years and now.
My father also uses a Volla Phone now a few years, and mostly it runs fine, i still hope Firefox comes to Ubuntu Touch.